MAINZ.

(From United States Consul Schumann, Mainz, Germany.)

The bonded warehouses of this city, including a large warehouse for general storage, a grain elevator, a warehouse for the storage of petroleum, turpentine, benzine, etc., a warehouse for the storage of spirits, an inspection hall, and sundry small warehouses, are substantially built brick structures of pleasing architectural lines, which were erected by the municipality of Mainz in the year 1887 at a total original cost of $363,639, exclusive of the cost of the ground.

The total storage areas of the principal buildings are as follows: Main warehouse in the customs harbor, 129,150 square feet; grain elevator in the customs harbor, 58,609 square feet, with a capacity of 6,710 tons; cellar of the grain elevator, which is used for the storage of oil, lard, and wine, 7,761 square feet; inspection hall, 19,726 square feet; warehouse for petroleum, turpentine, benzine, etc., 7,213 square feet; warehouse for spirits, 8,815 square feet.

Hydraulic cranes on rails unload the vessels directly at the doors of the warehouses.

While the buildings belong to the municipality, the management is conducted by the Grand Ducal Hessian customs office at Mainz, and all goods are under close supervision and inspection of customs officials, and nothing can pass the gates of the inclosure to the customs harbor that has not been officially inspected.

Goods may be stored in bond in the warehouses for a period of five years; but for good and sufficient reasons this period may be extended. On the average goods remain in bond one-half to one year. The goods chiefly stored in the bonded warehouses of this city are grains, spices, lumber, coffee, cocoa, cork stoppers, petroleum, rice, tobacco, tea, lard, lubricating oil, spirits, wine, and sugar. American goods stored in the bonded warehouses of this city are chiefly grains, lumber, petroleum, lard, lubricating oil, and tobacco. All nationalities are treated exactly alike by the administrators of the warehouses.

The total receipts for the entire bonded-warehouse system average about $30,000 a year; the total expenditures about $27,000.

The storage charges are based upon area of floor space in square meters (10.76 square feet) or weight in hundreds of kilograms (220.46 pounds), and are as follows: For storage of wine, alcohol, etc., in the cellars of the warehouses, per square meter, for three years, $3.50; for one year, $1.43; for one month, 18 cents. For the storage of oil, fats, and other articles requiring a low temperature, in cellars, per square meter, for three years, $2.14; for one year, 95 cents; for one month, 12 cents. For storage in the upper stories of the warehouses, per square meter, for three years, $2.14; for one year, 95 cents; for one month, 12 cents. For storage in the spirits warehouses, per square meter, for three years, $2.14; for one year, 95 cents; for one month, 18 cents. For storage in the petroleum warehouses, per square meter, for one year, 95 cents. For the storage of wheat, rye, barley, and corn, loose, the charge per 100 kilograms is 5 pfennigs (1.19 cents) (220.46 pounds); and for oats, rape seed, malt, legumes, and linseed, 6 pfennigs (1.43 cents), all in quantities of at least 50,000 kilograms (110,200 pounds). For smaller quantities of various goods the storage ranges, according to the article-heavier articles being

cheaper than light-from 5 pfennigs (1.19 cents) to 18 pfennigs (4.28 cents) per 100 kilograms (220.46 pounds) or part thereof, for one calendar month or fraction thereof.

MAINZ, GERMANY, July 21, 1904.

WALTER SCHUMANN, Consul.

STETTIN.

(From United States Consul Kehl, Stettin, Germany.)

THE FREE HARBOR AND ITS WAREHOUSES.

The free harbor at Stettin, commenced on February 6, 1894, and opened for business during the latter part of 1898, covers an area of 61 hectares (150.73 acres). The cost of construction (in marks) up to the time of opening was placed as follows: Earth work on the basin and the raising of the surrounding land, 1,700,000; quay around basin, 3,000,000; two quay sheds, 950,000; one storehouse, including machinery furnishings, 1,117,500; office building, 495,000; machine house, 250,000; other buildings, 270,000; wire fencing and floating customs boat at entrance to harbor, 180,000; machinery, excepting that in storehouse, 700,000; railroad bed, ties, rails, etc., 875,500; paving and roadways, 1,200,000; locomotive, 100,000; gas and water connections, sewerage, ferry, drain, etc., 694,500; value of ground, 3,050,000; total, 14,582,500 ($3,470,635).

Since the day of opening about 3,000,000 marks ($714,000) additional have been spent on the harbor, in the way of new sheds, storehouse, building a second basin, etc. The sheds referred to in the above statement of cost are each 30 meters (98.4 feet) broad, 182 meters (593.8 feet) long, and contain 6,530 square yards of floor space. The plans of the harbor permit the erecting of ten such sheds. The store or ware house referred to is 20 meters (65.1 feet) broad and 182 meters (593.8 feet) long, and has five floors and cellar. The building is divided by fireproof walls into twelve compartments. As in the case of sheds, the plans of the harbor permit, if necessary, the erection of eight such warehouses. The free harbor, the various buildings, locomotives, and ferry are owned, operated, and conducted by the city.

SERVICES.

The advantages of the free harbor, from a patron's point of view, are that the merchandise may remain in storage for an indefinite period without paying duty, and that at any time all or any part of the merchandise stored may be withdrawn for inland transportation—in which event the customs duty must be paid-or the merchandise can be reexported, in which case a statement of nature, quantity, country of origin, and country of destination must be furnished the harbor officials for statistical purposes. Patrons can use their certificate of merchandise in bond for collateral purposes by transferring the certificate to the party or parties advancing the money.

The services rendered by the administration of the warehouse are

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of a supervisory nature. Goods bound inland (except in bond) pay the necessary duty; merchandise reexported is tabulated for statistical purposes.

FEES FOR RENTAL, STORAGE, AND HANDLING.

The following statement shows the fees for storing in closed compartments and the use of open space in the free harbor:

I. A. The city will rent single storerooms or whole parts of the warehouse. Leases for storage room made for one year are, at the expiration of the year, subject to three months' notice to vacate (calculated by the four quarters of the year); leases for more than one year are subject to a six months' notice; for goods stored less than one year the time for giving notice is fixed by the harbor authorities. Rent for storage room is payable in advance. One year's rent for a single storage room is, according to location, as follows:

The above rates are to be used as a basis for calculating rentals for

less than one year.

B. Space for storing in the open (not under roof) is let at the rate of 10 pfennigs (2.38 cents) per square meter (10.76 square feet) per month for an area of at least 100 square meters (1,076 square feet). If space is used for any other purpose except storing the rate of rental is set by the authorities.

II. A. The city will accept goods for storage for a fee based on the weight of the article or articles to be stored. The charge amounts to 10 pfennigs (2.38 cents) per part or full month for every 100 kilograms (220.46 pounds). A special rate of 5 pfennigs (1.19 cents) per 100 kilograms per month is made on the following articles: Ammonia, water of ammonia, asphalt, cotton, cotton waste, tin, lead, manures, foodstuffs, iron, mineral wax, guano, kaolin, grains, rosin, legumes, flour, lubricating oil, paraffin, phosphate, seeds, salt, lard (mentioning only articles coming from the United States).

B. On 100 tons of packed merchandise there is a discount of 25 per cent, and on 500 tons a 50 per cent discount is made from the regular rate.

C. For bulky merchandise, for which in proportion to weight a large amount of space is required, such as willow ware, furniture, chairs, empty cases, empty barrels, rags, feathers, wool, etc., the storage fee is increased 50 per cent.

D. For storage in the open one-half the rates A to C will be charged. The officials in this case assume no responsibility whatever.

E. Commenced months and parts of 100 kilograms are calculated as full months and full 100 kilograms.

F. Charges are based on articles packed in the customary manner and of customary weight. For deviations from the general custom

the storage fee is set by the authorities.

Pieces of more than 1,500 kilograms (3,305 pounds) or pieces liable to catch fire will be refused. The authorities have the right to stipulate what merchandise shall be accepted for storage.

G. In special cases the authorities have the right to make special

rates.

III. A. Additional fees per 100 kilograms (220.46 pounds) are: (1) for handling during storing, 0.7 cent; (2) for handling when taken out, 0.7 cent (the fees given in 1 and 2 will be increased 1 pfennig (0.238 cent) for merchandise in small packages, or if in pieces of less than 20 kilograms (44 pounds), or for loose articles, excepting oil cakes); (3) for transferring from shed to warehouse, or vice versa, with the use of a crane, 0.5 cent; (4) for raising or lowering in the warehouse from one floor to the other, each way, 0.5 cent; (5) for unloading or loading merchandise coming or going by rail, (a) including weighing, 1.4 cents, and (b) without weighing, 0.7 cent; (6) for weighing merchandise, except as mentioned under 5, 1.2 cents; (7) for getting together certain marks and numbers from a pile of merchandise, 1.2 cents; (8) for filling or emptying sacks, (a) in connection with other services, 0.5 cent, and (b) otherwise, 1.2 cents. B. In warerooms rented as a whole, as many as four incandescent lights will be put in at the expense of the renter. Light will be furnished at the rate of 5 pfennigs (1.2 cents) for two lights, and 10 pfennigs (2.4 cents) for four lights. The electric meter for determining the amount of light used will be rented for 2 marks (47.6 cents) per year extra.

The above tariff of fees refers to the renting of storerooms and the handling of merchandise for storage. The ordinary ship, port, and city dues, the use of the railways in the free harbor, cranes, city laborers, etc., are all extra, and embodied in the freight charges.

RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.

The receipts from the warehouse, sheds, and rented open space and all other sources connected with the storing of merchandise, amounted to 47,300 marks ($11,257) in 1903. It is impossible to secure information as to the expenditures for such services, for the reason that the expense account of the free harbor covers all services and outlays of every nature and kind, and does not itemize expenses for merchandise in bond or for ships and merchandise cleared, but embodies both lines under one head. In round figures the total receipts from the free harbor were $50,000 less than the expenditures during 1903.

GOODS STORED.

Hog products, dried fruits, oleomargarine, and cotton oil are the principal articles of American origin stored in the free harbor; the length of time that these articles remain in bond is regulated by the

condition of the market. Petroleum and mineral oils can not be stored there for any length of time. All nationalities are treated alike by the officials of the free harbor in the matter of storing or clearing merchandise, and in the entering and clearing of vessels.

WAREHOUSES OUTSIDE THE FREE HARBOR.

The "Packhof " and the "Vereins-Speicher" are bonded Government warehouses and under customs control like the free harbor. In these two warehouses whole compartments can not be rented; the storage fee is based entirely on weight.

"Gentzensohn's Petroleum-Hof" and several other "oil yards" are private bonded places for storing oils only, and charge as follows for storage: For weighing each barrel, 3 pfennigs (0.7 cent); storage fee per barrel for first month or part of month, 15 pfennigs (3.6 cents); storage fee for every subsequent month, per barrel, 10 pfennigs (2.3 cents); open space (not under lock) per square meter (10.76 square feet) per month, 15 pfennigs (3.6 cents).

Information as to receipts and expenditures of these private bonded warehouses is not obtainable.

STETTIN, GERMANY, July 16, 1904.

JOHN E. KEHL, Consul.

GREECE.

(From United States Consul McGinley, Athens, Greece.)

In this country there are warehouses for storage of merchandise in transit or in bond at Piraeus, Syra, Patras, Corfu, and Calamata. There are two such warehouses at Piraeus, each about 50 by 30 feet; the dimensions and costs of the others have not been learned. The warehouses mentioned are owned and conducted by the Greek Government, but there are others in Piraeus which are owned by private parties and conducted by their owners and by government officials. They are used for the storage of cereals.

The service seems to be satisfactory to the local patrons. I can not say how nonresidents view it. Officials of the customs service are in attendance at all hours.

The rates charged for storage in the public or government warehouses are 25 leptas (about $0.035 at present rate of exchange) per 100 okas (282.185 pounds) for less than 200 okas, and a little less for more than 200 okas, for each three months, without deducting tare. Merchandise remaining in the custom-houses over eight days are charged storage at these rates. Light or bulky goods or merchandise, such as baled hay, straw, or cotton, furniture, hats, children's toys, and carriages, wool, manila fiber, silk cocoons, dried fruit, felt, baskets, and many other articles pay double these rates. Landing and storage charges are paid at the time the goods are removed from the warehouses. No charges are collected by the government for cereals and other goods stored in private storehouses.

If any record is kept none is available showing the receipts and expenditures of the warehouses for storage and transit in bond, sepa